Category Archives: Cocktails

I can count on one hand the number of Scotch-based cocktails worth mixing. Scotch does not “play well with others,” which is okay by me.

Among those Scotch-based libations that are worthy, Penicillin is a refreshing drink that smoothes out the rough edges and wets one’s whistle quite admirably.

This version is a subtle variation. Usually made with honey-ginger syrup as the sweetener, I substituted Canton (Ginger Liqueur) instead. It achieved the same goal of providing a gingery sweetness against the lemon Juice, and brought a few percentage points of alcohol to the party.

I bring you Penicillin:

2oz. Blended Scotch (I used Chivas)

3/4oz. Lemon Juice

3/4oz. Honey-Ginger Syrup (I used Canton)

1/4oz. Islay Malt

Shake everything but the Islay with crushed ice. Strain into a cocktail glass or coupe and float the Islay on top of the cocktail. Garnish with dried ginger.

Last week I posted a fun libation called The Star Cocktail. Based on Calvados, the apple flavor made a perfect introduction to Fall.

I admit, I was quite taken with the Calvados as a base spirit and I had to experiment. I poked around the liquor cabinet looking for erstwhile partners… at first I thought Ginger Liqueur, but relented because of the candied sweetness. I then entertained all manner of Amari, but their fullness and bitterness shattered the delicacy of the Calvados. And then I stumbled upon a few comely dance partners… Mandarine Napoleon Liqueur, and Martini and Rossi’s new Ambrato Vermouth. The requisite combination yielded a wonderfully balanced cocktail with charming apple, orange peel and lemon notes. Lighter than The Star, and very apropos for Fall.

I present Napoleon’s Revenge:

1-1/2 oz. Calvados

1 oz. Mandarine Napoleon

1 oz. Martini & Rossi Ambrato Riserva Vermouth Bianca

Shake with crushed ice and strain into a coupe. Garnish with an orange and lemon twist. I had to use a Luxardo cherry…

English born Harry Craddock was one of the most important bartenders in the history of the cocktail. He was trained in America until prohibition sent him packing to the London and the Savoy Hotel. There he proceeded to write one the most important cocktail tomes, The Savoy Cocktail Book. Written in 1930 and containing well over 750 recipes, the book is a classic, still in print today.

Within the covers of The Savoy, are numerous, delicious libations, such as The Star Cocktail. Simple and yet a wonderful aperitif, with subtle apple overtones and a crisp, refreshing palate. Perfect for a Fall evening.

According to Difford’s Guide, 365 Days of Cocktails, today is International Dot Day. As the story goes, in 2009, a teacher named Terry Shay introduced her class to Peter H. Reynold’s curious story The Dot. In it, a teacher starts a young girl on a journey of self-discovery by asking her to place a dot on a piece of paper. The exercise offers the girl encouragement in her own abilities and launches Vashti on life’s adventure.

In commemoration, what better libation than the Classic Martini, adorned with its own “dot,” a splash of Absinthe.

The juxtaposition of Dry Vermouth to Anise causes a raised eyebrow… and a little bit more…

Fridays in the Summer seem to beg for Rum… especially when the temperature and humidity are high.

There are too many variations of “El Presidente” cocktails to even begin to classify any as “classic.” The one common thread between them all is Rum.

Otherwise, the variations are limitless.

I focused in on a recipe that caught my eye because of the juxtaposition of Cointreau and Dry Vermouth. It struck me that this variation would be more balanced than many of the other options.

The recipe specifically called for Grander Rum, an 8-year-old, Bourbon cask-aged spirit. Not having any Grander, I chose a Special Reserve Appleton from Jamaica.

Overall, the cocktail is quite refreshing and very well balanced. The Cointreau lends a lovely orange blossom flavor to the drink, and the Dolin Dry Vermouth keeps the sweetness in check. Quite a happy camper am I…

My friends, I present the Panama Presidente Cocktail:

2oz. Rum (8 year-old, cask aged)

3/4oz. Cointreau

3/4oz. Dry Vermouth

1/4oz. Pure Cane Syrup

Shake ingredients with ice and strain into a coup glass. Garnish with either an orange or lemon peel.

Google “Bird of Paradise” cocktail and you will be presented with several iterations, each claiming “classic” status. Interestingly, the base spirits range from Gin to Tequila to Rum, with mixers running the gamut from lemon to lime to orange juice. Confusing at best.

After considerable research, the version that catches my fancy is actually the least common recipe. Based on equal parts Aperol and Rum, with a mix of pineapple and lime juice, this version is decidedly tropical, but with a crisp, refreshing edge that leaves the palate crying for more.

Perfect on a warm Summer’s day, this Bird of Paradise will entice your taste buds with suggestions of tropical fruits and exotic destinations.

The Bird of Paradise Cocktail:

1.5oz Aperol

1.5oz Rum (I used Goslings Black Seal)

1.5oz Pineapple Juice

.75oz Lime Juice

Shake the ingredients with crushed ice and strain into a coup. Garnish with a lemon slice.

The lore of cocktails is rich and filled with many contradictions. The challenge is that with any lore, there is a fine line between verifiable truth and entertaining story. Cocktail lore is no different.

For many, the Martinez Cocktail is the precursor to the ubiquitous Martini. Seems plausible, given the name and ingredient list, and yet there is a camp (including yours truly) that holds fast to the Hoffman House as the parent of the Martini.

After crafting a few versions of the Martinez, I am actually able to see the evolution of the Martini from this classic tipple.

Both have Gin as their primary spirit. The Martinez leverages Sweet Vermouth, whereas the Martini employs the bracing character of Dry Vermouth. The Martinez also adds a third ingredient- Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur. This nutty, fruity spirit brings a hint of almond skin and hazelnut to the game. In comparison, the two cocktails couldn’t be more different and yet, they share a common bond.

I am always adding interesting spirits to the bar. Not because I have a plan, but more often because I want options. And as you might expect, things get lost… this was the case with the Cocchi Aperitivo Americano… purchased who knows when and finally used in a cocktail!

Inspiration was taken from an Instagram post and the rest just sort of happened.

I’m dubbing this “old school” libation the Cocchi Cocktail, largely because the primary spirit is Cocchi.

Well-balanced and quite refreshing. A perfect Summer tipple when the dew point is reaching new heights.

I bring you, the Cocchi Cocktail:

2oz. Cocchi Aperitivo Americano

1oz. Aged Rum

1/2oz. Bourbon

Shake with crushed ice and strain into a coup. Garish with a Luxardo cherry.

Back in the early 19th century, when the cocktail was in its infancy, the driving spirits were either Cognac or Rum. Whiskey was certainly produced in the colonies, primarily rye, but the tipple used most often in cocktails was Cognac. Rum was firmly ensconced in the punch bowl of your local tavern and ventured forth as a cocktail only occasionally.

Paying homage to those early days, the Classic Cocktail is a refreshing Cognac-based drink that emphasizes the key element of a cocktail – balance. Sweet must play against bitter to create a harmonious balance on the palate. The use of Maraschino liqueur softens the bite from the Cognac.

Light, but spiritous, the Classic Cocktail is perfect on a warm summer night!

The Classic Cocktail…

3oz. Cognac

1/2oz. Maraschino Liqueur

1/2oz. Grand Marnier

1/2oz. Lemon Juice

1/2oz. Cold Water

Shake with crushed ice and strain into a coupe. Garnish with a lemon peel, or a Luxardo cherry.

All this week I have been posting Negroni cocktails in support of Negroni Week, a celebration of the classic cocktail dreamed up by Imbibe Magazine and Campari.

In Imbibe Magazine’s own words:

Welcome to Negroni Week, presented by Imbibe Magazine and Campari. Imbibe launched Negroni Week in 2013 as a celebration of one of the world’s great cocktails and an effort to raise money for charities around the world. From 2013 to 2017, Negroni Week grew from about 120 participating venues to over 7,700 venues around the world, and to date, they have collectively raised nearly $1.5 million for charitable causes.

For one week every June, bar and restaurants mix classic Negronis and Negroni variations for a great cause. To participate, each venue signs up at negroniweek.com, chooses from our list of official charity partners, and makes an immediate donation to that charity. Then they can return during and after Negroni Week to make additional donations to their chosen charity. After Negroni Week is complete, we tally up how much was raised collectively by all of our participating bars, restaurants and partners.

So there you have it… Negroni Week is officially a “thing…”

In the spirit of building on this wonderful idea, I decided to ask my Musings supporters to like and comment on the Negroni, and Negroni-variant cocktails appearing in my social media feeds this week – Instagram, Facebook and Fitocracy. If you like my post, I will donate a $1 to ALS Research… a (meaningful) comment yields a $5 donation… Plain and simple… Thus far things look good for a healthy donation… And this evening I decided to offer something a bit more radical.

I was a bit tired of each of my variations looking too much like the original Negroni, so I decided – what if we could make a Negroni devoid of it’s usual crimson hue? Is this possible?

Technically, the answer is no. There is no Campari that is anything but Ferrari red… and Campari is presumably one of the required ingredients of the cocktail. What to do? Bend the rules.

Campari is in the family of Italian spirits called Amari, or “bitters.” So what if we were able to find a white/translucent bitters? Something with a taste profile not unlike Campari, but having no color. Enter Luxardo’s Bitters Bianco, a non-colored bitters with flavors not unlike Campari.

The next ingredient that we need to “clarify?” Sweet Vermouth. Traditionally, sweet vermouth is red. However, several producers make a white version that is sweet. Cinzano most notably makes a Vermouth Bianco that has a depth of sweetness and flavor not unlike traditional red sweet vermouth.

So there you have it – the ingredients to enable the creation of what I am calling a The White Count, or an Albino Negroni…

1 oz. London Dry Gin

1 oz. Luxardo Bitters Bianco

1 oz. Cinzano Vermouth Bianco

Shake the ingredients with crushed ice, strain into a cocktail glass and garnish by floating a thinly sliced orange.